3 arrested in 26/11 lawyer murder case

With the arrest of two alleged sharpshooters and a local gangster on Tuesday, the Mumbai crime branch claimed to have solved the murder of Shahid Azmi, who was the lawyer of 26/11 accused Fahim Ansari.

Azmi was shot dead at Kurla on February 11.

Joint Commissioner of Police(crime)Rakesh Maria said another suspect is still at large.

Although police had said the murder appeared to be a contract killing ordered by two fugitive underworld kingpins — Bhagwant Singh alias Bharat Nepali and Vijay alias Bala Shetty — the motive remains unknown.

Those arrested are Devendra Jagtap (28), Pintu Dhagle (22) and local gangster Vinod Vichare (32). Hashmukh Solanki (32), a third sharpshooter is absconding.

Maria said Vichare had received instructions from Nepali and Shetty to kill Azmi. Vichare, in turn, informed Jagtap.

The contract was allegedly of Rs 1 lakh. “Jagtap is the main conspirator and executor of the operation,” Maria said.

The initial plan was to kill Azmi at a court or his home. But both these plans were abandoned to avoid a crowded area. It was then decided to attack Azmi at his chamber in Kurla.